1998 Chevrolet Venture

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2001· WHEELS

  WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH WHEEL STUDS CAME OFF WHICH LED TO DISENGAGEMENT OF WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 12/31/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ENGINE RANDOMLY GOES TO FULL THROTTLE WHEN BRAKING. THIS OCCURS ONLY AFTER THE VAN HAS BEEN DRIVEN LONG ENOUGH FOR THE ENGINE TO GET TO RUN TEMP. THE VAN IS THEN PARKED (ENGINEOFF) FOR ABOUT 30 TO 45 MIN. THEN ENGINE IS RESTARTED . WHEN THE BRAKES ARE NEXT APPLIED THE ENGINE GOES TO FULL THROTTLE. THIS IS A RANDOM EVENT AND WILL NOT ALWAYS OCCUR WHEN THE PREVIOUS CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT. (LIKE THE TRAGEDY IN MINNEAPOLIS DEC 4 1998)

• 12/28/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NOTICED AN ENGINE "TICK" COUPLE WEEKS AGO. PROBLEM SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR ONCE ENGINE CAME UP TO TEMPERATURE. NOTICED LAST NIGHT THAT PROBLEM "TICK" IS MORE NOTICEABLE. INVESTIGATED TONIGHT AFTER RESEARCHING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEMS ON THE WEB, AND DISCOVERED COOLANT IN THE ENGINE OIL. TS

• 12/27/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FOR THE 2ND TIME SINCE THE DATE NOTED BELOW, I AM EXPERIENCING INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. IN 2003 IT WAS REPLACED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT 34,000 MILES. NOW, JUST SHY OF 2 YEARS LATER, AND AT 53,000 (AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND A COST OF $1200.00)) IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE REASON I AM CONTACTING YOU AT THIS TIME IS THAT GM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS AS A RECALLABLE ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I SPOKE WITH GLEN KUNIYUKI ON 12/7/05, AND SYLVIA JABOUIN ON 12/8/05, AT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY SAID THAT SINCE THIS WAS NOT A RECALLABLE ISSUE AND UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE NHTSA MADE THEM RECALL THE VEHICLES INVOLVED, THAT THEY SIMPLY WERE NOT GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO GM MODELS, AND RECOMMENDED TRADING IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES WHERE MANY OTHER GM CUSTOMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME REPETITIVE PROBLEM WITH NO SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I AM PROVIDING YOU WITH ONLY FOUR, BUT THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE. (HTTP://FORUM.FREEADVICE.COM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-194703.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/GM_INTAKE_MANIFOLD.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/GM_DEXCOOL.HTML HTTP://SFDISCUSSIONS.PROBOARDS32.COM/INDEX.CGI?BOARD=LEMON&ACTION=DISPLAY&THREAD=1089240579) YOUR ATTENTION AND RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER WILL BE ANXIOUSLY AWAITED. *NM

• 12/26/2005· STEERING

  I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE VAN THAT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME DEFECTS OF THE RACK AND PINION RECALL FOR THE SAME LISTED VEHICLE AND YEAR. CHEVY TELLS ME THAT MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH COINCIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 76,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

• 12/24/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER STATES' AFTER BREAKING STEERING OUT OF THE LOCK MODE, CONSUMER DROVE TO A NEAR DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

• 12/22/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/22/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK APPEARS WHEN THE TANK IS FULL AND IS HEARD DOWN TO ABOUT 1/2 TANK. WHEN YOU START OUT OR COME TO A STOP A "THUMP" SOUND IS HEARD. IT SOUNDS LIKE A BASKETBALL IS ROLLING AROUND IN THE TANK. THE DEALER HAS R/R THE TANK AND REPLACED THE STRAPPING AND THE SOUND IS STILL THERE. IF AND WHEN I SELL THIS VEHICLE THE SOUND WON'T BE A SELLING POINT. PLUS, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE TOO. I'VE FILLED OUT A NHTS QUESTIONNAIRE IN OCTOBER AND HAVEN'T HEARD FROM EITHER THE MANUFACTURE OR THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHECKED THE TECH. SUPPORT SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, NO FIX, BUT NOT TO WORRY... WELL, WE'RE WORRING NOW. PLEASE CONTACT US BY E-MAIL AS TO THE STATUS OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU JOHN THIME. *AK

• 12/22/1998· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN THE TIRES ARE RUBBING AGAINST THE REARWHEEL WELLS. WHEN DRIVING SEVEN PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE AND HITTING A VALLEY OR GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD, THE TIRES ARE RUBBING. *AK *ML

• 12/20/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I OWN A 1998 CHEVY VENTURE MINIVAN AND ON THE DATE SPECIFIED I WAS OUT WITH MY FAMILY ( A SNOWY EVENING) WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND MY TURN SIGNALS ON MY DASH WENT TO A SOLID GREEN. AS I APPROACHED THE RED LIGHT A PERSON IN THE CAR NEXT TO ME ADVISED ME THAT I HAD NO TAILLIGHTS. AFTER GETTING HOME I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WHERE IF MOISTURE GETS INTO THE CONNECTOR ON THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, IT WILL CAUSE THE GROUND CONNECTOR TO SHORT OUT AND CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO DO SOME CRAZY THINGS AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE AT CERTAIN TIMES. *NM

• 12/17/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEATER NOT WORKING DUE TO A FAULTY MANIFOLD GASKET THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE OF OUR 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT GM IS NOW PRODUCING A BETTER GASKET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THAT'S GREAT!! I WOULD LIKE GM TO PAY THE $798.67 BILL FOR HAVING TO REPLACE THE FIRST GASKET THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY TESTED BY ENGINEERING. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *JB

• 12/15/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN IT GETS DARK OR WHEN DRIVING IN A GARAGE. OWNER WANTS TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE HEADLIGHTS MANUALLY, SO THAT THEY CAN BE SWITCHED OFF IN PARKING GARAGES WHERE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED. *AK *ML

• 12/14/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  CONSUMER DIDN'T ENTRY SUMMARY.

• 12/13/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY VAN OVER HEATED AND STALLED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. I HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKETS, LOWER INTAKE, ALL MY SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK PLUG WIRES. I HAD NO LEAKS THAT I WAS AWARE OF. NOTHING ON THE GORUND TO EVEN SUSPECT A LEAK. APPARENTLY I WAS LEAKING SO BAD INTERNALLY THAT 2 OF MY SPARK PLUGS CRAPPED OUT AND MY VAN REFUSED TO RUN. FROM WHAT I READ THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG VENTURE OWNERS. I REALLY LOVE MY VAN BUT THIS FLAW WILL PREVENT ME FROM BUYING ANOTHER ONE, WHICH I FULLY INTENDED ON DOING IN A FEW YEAR. SORRY GM BUT I'LL GO WITH A HONDA NEXT TIME. *AK

• 12/13/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM... AND IT HAS SO LITTLE MILEAGE ON IT ! I CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY, THE DEALER SAYS THAT DON'T HAVE ANY. *AK

• 12/13/1999· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHILE THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A PARK GEAR, RUNNING UNSUPERVISED, T VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BACK INTO AN TREE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

• 12/12/1999· STEERING

  WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SHALLOW PUDDLES BELT SLIPS AND LOOSES POWER STEERING.HAZZARD GOING AROUND CORNERS AND CAN'T STEER.

• 12/10/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I WAS EXPERIENCING LOSS OF COOLANT. FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD /GASKET. COST OF REPAIR $700. WENT ON LINE AND FOUND A SITE WITH OVER 1,000 PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. MECHANICS ARE SAYING IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL GM ENGINES. THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED. HOPEFULLY, I CAUGHT MINE IN TIME. HUNDREDS DIDN'T AND THEIR ENGINE BLEW. MECHANIC SAID HAD I TAKEN THIS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE LEAK MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND IS AFFECTING MILLIONS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!! DT

• 12/09/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. NO WARNING...JUST COMPLETE FAILURE. *TR

• 12/08/2004· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VEHICLE TENDS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING EVEN AFTER THE STEERING COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE SWERVES UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH. *AK THE STEERING VEARED TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. BRAKE POWER BOOSTER PUMP WENT OUT LEAVING THE VEHICLE BRAKELESS. *TC

• 12/08/2003· STEERING

  HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE, IT HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DOING RESEARCH I SEE THAT MANY VANS OF THIS YEAR ARE RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT GM INSISTS THAT MINE IS NOT ONE OF THEM. I THINK THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS FAULTY PART. POWER STEERING WOULD STOP WORKING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS. AT TIMES I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP TURNING IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN/INTERSECTION.*AK

• 12/03/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  ASSEMBLY COLLECTS WATER THROUGH FAULTY SEALS. CONDENSATE REDUCES ILLUMINATION. EVENTUALLY LENS FALLS OFF, BULB EXPLODES IF HOT AND RAIN STRKES IT, CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FAIL.*AK

• 12/03/1999· EQUIPMENT

  CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE TIRE BY USING FACTORY JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH VEHICLE WHEN IT BENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FALL, BARELY MISSING CONSUMER'S LEG AND DAMAGING BUMPER. *AK

• 12/02/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WHICH ALLOWED DEXTROL COOLANT TO MIX WITH OIL. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. DT

• 11/30/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MY HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE FALLEN OFF ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS IS CLEARLY A FAULTY DESIGN AS THE LENSES ARE MERELY GLUED ON THE FRONT OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. BECAUSE OF THE GLUE WEARING AWAY ON THE HEADLIGHT COVER, WATER GETS INTO THE ASSEMBLY AND CAUSES THE HALOGEN LIGHTS TO SHORT OUT. THIS TO ME IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I THINK THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADMIT TO THIS AND RECALL THE VANS AND REPLACE WITH A NEW DESIGN. WHY DOES IT ALWAYS TAKE SOMEONE'S DEATH AND A LAWSUIT TO GET SOMETHING TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME I PUT DUCT TAPE AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE LENSES TO KEEP THEM ON. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO DO THAT??? *JB

• 11/28/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THIS FAILURE IF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS A COMMON AND COSTLY REPAIR ON THESE GM MINIVANS. DT

• 11/27/2015· STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E005000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

• 11/27/2000· STRUCTURE

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/25/2003· STEERING

  POWER STEERING IS FAILING IN MY 1998 CHEVY VENTURE. IT IS DISPLAYING THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, CHEVROLET SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICES I'VE READ INCLUDE 1998 CHEVY VENTURES. I AM UPSET THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS OUR OF POCKET AND THEN "WAIT" FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT ALREADY IS. *LA

• 11/25/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE MANIFOLD LEAK.*MR THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS DOWN QUITE OFTEN. *JB *NM

• 11/25/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE CONTINUES TO SHAKE REAL BAD AND STALLS OUT. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WONT START. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770115

• 11/24/1999· CHILD SEAT

  3-YEAR OLD CHILD UNDID THE CSS WITOUT PUSHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE BUCKLE AT THE CHEST COULD BE UNDONE WITHOUT PINCHING IN THE SIDE CLASPS. DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

• 11/23/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAM SHAFT BROKE WHILE WARMING UP IN MY YARD. 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. I FOUND A TSB THAT STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VAN HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THE DEALER NEVER REPLACED THE GASKET BEFORE I PURCHASED IT.IT HAS 56000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW HAS 88000 16 MONTHES LATER. TALKED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT CAMSHAFTS DON;T JUST BREAK UNLESS THEY ARE FAULTY. I AM CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE LOANED ME A VEHICLE TO USE UNTIL WE COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT.*AK

• 11/23/1999· VISIBILITY

  THE AIR VENT / DEFROSTER / DEFOGGER DOES NOT REMOVE THE FROST OR ICE OFF THE FRONT SIDE WINDOWS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

• 11/22/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAD THE COOLANT FLUSHED ONE MONTH AGO AT THE LOCAL DEALER. DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY NEAR HOME, THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. NO INDICATION ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE THAT COOLANT TEMP EVER EXCEEDED EVEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE NORMAL RANGE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE VAN RUNS ROUGH AND HAS A LIGHT COOLANT SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALER SAID THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FAILED ALLOWING THE VAN TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW THE HEAD GASKETS. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $2500 AND WITH ONLY 88K MILES ON THE VAN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE FAILED. FIRST TIME THE INTAKE GASKETS FAILED WAS AT 45K MILES RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THERE WAS NO OVERHEAT OR HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE FIRST INCIDENCE. *JB

• 11/22/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

• 11/20/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NO SUMMARY. DT

• 11/20/2002· STEERING

  CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MAKE LEFT TURN. STEERING WHEEL, WILL LOSE THE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 11/18/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEADLIGHT LENS HAS MOISTURE INSIDE IT. I FEEL THIS EFFECTS THE LIGHTING AT NIGHT AS IT CERTAINLY MUST OBSTRICT THE LIGHT BEAM. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE WORST I'VE EVER HAD ON A VEHICLE EVEN WITHOUT THIS DEFECT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM WHEELS INC. LEASING. I SIMPLY WENT TO SEIF CHEV. TO INITIATE THE COMPLAINT AND SEE IF THERE WAS A FIX. THEY REFERRED ME TO A CHEVROLET CUST. COMPLAINT NBR. 800 222-1020. ICALLED THIS NUMBER AND TALKED TO A CUSTOMER REP WHO TOOK MY COMPLAINT TO INVESTIGATE. HE GAVE ME A FILE NBR. 990559403. THIS CALL WAS MADE ON 10/29/99. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING FURTHER AND ON 11/18/99 I AGAIN CALLED CHEV. CUST. SVC. AND REFERRED TO THE FILE NUMBER. THE PERSON PUT ME ON HOLD AND CALLED SEIF CHEV. HE THEN CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. IT WAS A COMMON OCCURRANCE TO HAVE MOISTURE INSIDE THESE HEADLIGHT LENS AND IT WAS FELT BY CHEV. THAT THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. I, AS PREVIOUSLY STATED DO FEEL IT IS A PROBLEM AND IT IS CAUSED EITHER BY BAD DESIGN OR POOR MANUFACTURE. I THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO . NOT ONLY THE CHEV VENTURE BUT ALSO THE OLDS SILOUETTE AND PONTIAC MINI VANS.

• 11/17/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS FAULTY CONTACT. WILL NOT FIX. *AK

• 11/17/1999· POWER TRAIN

  THIS IS AN ANNOYANCE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMITION. ON HIGHWAY INCLINES AT 40 TO 60 MPH IN 3RD GEAR THERE IS A CONSTANT BUCKING OF THE VAN. THIS WAS REPORTED TO, AND NOTED BY THE DEALER BUT HE WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ANOTHER DEALER SAYS IT IS THE TOURQUE CONVERTER BUT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I PURCHASED THIS VAN AFTER LEASE RAN OUT 11/99. I WOULD STILL LIKE THIS DEFECT FIXED. *AK

• 11/16/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS OVER PAST 6 MONTHS. VEHICLE CURRENTLY USING COOLANT, BUT NOT LEAKING TO GROUND. WHEN VEHICLE STALLS, MAKES ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

• 11/15/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I PURCHASED A 1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE NEW FOR APPROXIMATELY $27,000. AFTER 4 1/2 YEARS I HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. I MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS EVEN CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 3 TO 4000. ON LABOR DAY 2003, A LITTLE MORE THAN 5 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I BROKE DOWN RETURNING FROM A FAMILY VACATION WITH THE CAR PACKED AND MY THREE KIDS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER. 75 MILES FROM HOME. BOTTOM LINE THE CAM BEARINGS SPUN IN THE ENGINE AND THE DEALER SAID THE CAR WAS WORTH $300 AS IS. IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A TOTAL COST OF $6150. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AGREED THAT THIS WAS PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE BUT THAT THE ENGINE HAD 72,000 MILES AND ACCORDING TO GM THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THAT ENGINE IS ONLY 100,000 MILES. THEY SAID I GOT ALMOST 75% OF THE ENGINES EXPECTED LIFE AND THEY OFFERED ME 25% OF THE COST INCURRED BY ME TO INSTALL A NEW ENGINE. GM NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FAULTY GASKET ON THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED THIS PROBLEM BY ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE. GM SHOULD HAVE REIMBURSED ME THE COST FOR THE GASKET REPLACEMENT AND THE ENGINE. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR I EXPECT, BUT TO HAVE A VEHICLE WORTH ABOUT $7,000 ONE DAY AND $300 THE NEXT IS NOT FAIR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE AND I WILL LET AS MANY PEOPLE I KNOW HOW GM STANDS BY THEIR PRODUCT. *LA

• 11/15/2001· SEAT BELTS

  LEFT 2ND SEAT BELT DEFECTIVE. WHILE PROBLEMATIC FOR MONTHS, PRECISE CAUSE JUST IDENTIFIED. ANY SLIGHT PRESSURE TO (RED) RELEASE BUCKLE, THOUGH CAUSING NO VISIBLE CHANGE, CAUSES BUCKLE TO RELEASE UNEXPECTEDLY AT A LATER TIME. WAS USED TO SECURE CHILD CAR SEAT. CONTINUALLY FOUND BUCKLE UNLATCHED AFTER TRIPS. ORIGINALLY SUSPECTED CHILD WAS RELEASING BUCKLE BUT RECENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED TRUE CAUSE (OTHER BELTS FINE). CHEVROLET DEALER DENIES THIS AS A SAFETY REPAIR, OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

• 11/14/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS CAME OFF THREE TIMES AND THE LEFT ONCE. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEAD LAMP TWICE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. *AK

• 11/12/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND COOLANT OVER-FLOW IS CONSANTLEY EMPTY WITH A RESIDUE LEFT BEHIND. LOW COOLANT LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT APPROX.48000; PRESENT MILEAGE 58830. WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED COOLANT ON MY DRIVEWAY AND IN MY GARAGE. TEMPERATURE GUAGE ALSO SHOW SIGNS OF OVER HEAT.

• 11/12/1999· EQUIPMENT

  WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE THE JACK BUCKLED IN HALF. *AK

• 11/11/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I AM GOING TO NEED TO REPAIR MY MINIVAN DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT LEAK AND I REALLY CAN NOT AFFORD THIS AND MAY HAVE TO HAVE THE VAN SIT UNTIL I CAN. I CANNOT BELIEVE AFTER ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON HERE THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS OR THE HEADLIGHTS. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVY VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR THAT IS NOT THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY, ITS OBVIOUS THAT THIS NEEDS A RECALL. I DO HOPE YOU COME TO YOUR SENSES ABOUT THIS COSTLY REPAIR TO THE CONSUMERS BECAUSE I WILL LET EVERY ONE I POSSIBLE KNOW THAT CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS COSTLY PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AS I AM SURE OTHERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM HAVE TOLD NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND YOU SALES WILL DROP SO LOW THAT YOU WILL WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL. *JB

• 11/10/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BOTH HEADLIGHTS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THIS HAPPENED. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK UPDATED 11/30/05. *JB

• 11/10/2005· VISIBILITY

  (1)WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL FAILURE. WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE / OPERATED ERRATICALLY DURING RAINSTORM AT NIGHT. WIPERS WORK AT TIMES, NOT AT ALL AT OTHERS. TURNING THEM OFF, THEN BACK ON MAY GET THEM WORKING AGAIN, OR MAYBE NOT. (2) HAD TO PULL OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE WIPERS RUNNING ON INTERMITTENT MODE. CONTINUED DRIVING TO DESTINATION WITH CAUTION (WHITE KNUCKLE DRIVING ALL THE WAY). (3) PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED YET. WILL NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN, UNTIL PROBLEM IS SUCCESSFULLY DIAGNOSED / REPAIRED. *JB